Wheeled vehicle with water deflectors

Abstract

A vehicle has a straddle seat, a left front wheel and a right front wheel. Each of the front wheels is mounted to the vehicle via a front suspension. Each front wheel has a fender associated therewith. At least one rear wheel is mounted to the vehicle via a rear suspension. A left footrest is disposed on a left side of the vehicle at a location below the straddle seat. A right footrest is disposed on a right side of the vehicle at a location below the straddle seat. A left water deflector is disposed at a location between the left front wheel and the left footrest. A right water deflector is disposed at a location between the right front wheel and the right footrest.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to wheeled vehicles having water deflectors.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]As is commonly known, when wheeled vehicles are operated on a wet surface, their wheels cause some water to be lifted from the wet surface. Wheeled vehicle manufacturers therefore attempt to prevent the users of the vehicles from getting wet due to this lifted water.[0003]In wheeled vehicles having bucket or bench seats, such as in automobiles, the users are typically located inside an enclosure which shields them from the water being lifted by the wheels.[0004]This is not the case however in vehicles having a straddle seat where the users are exposed to the elements. Therefore, various components have been added to such vehicles to prevent water lifted by the wheels from getting the users wet when the vehicle is used on a wet surface.[0005]In motorcycles, a rear fender is provided over the rear wheel to prevent water from being sprayed by the rear w...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]One aspect of the present invention provides a three-wheeled straddle type vehicle having water deflectors positioned so as to prevent water sprays generated by the front wheels in the second way described above from reaching the user.

Problems solved by technology

This is not the case however in vehicles having a straddle seat where the users are exposed to the elements.

Providing fixed front fenders over the two front wheels, which are spaced apart from the body of the vehicle, does not satisfactorily prevent water from being sprayed on the user since when the front wheels are turned to steer the vehicle, the front wheel located on the inside of the turn sprays water directly on the user.

However, even by using these fenders some water is still being sprayed by the front wheels on the user of the vehicle.

However, it was found that regardless of how close the bottom of the front fenders get to the ground, some water is still being sprayed by the front wheels on the user of the vehicle, and more particularly on the user's feet, when the vehicle is operated on a wet surface.

Since this type of water spray is generated at the front or at the point of contact of the wheel with the ground, the addition of a fender to the wheel, which provides water shielding directly behind the wheel, does not address the problem.

This means that in a three-wheeled vehicle having two front wheels, the portions of the water sprays being generated in the second way and which are located between the front wheels and the body of the vehicle will cause the user of the vehicle to get wet.

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